The Warren County High School softball team continued district tournament play at Stone Memorial High School Monday and Tuesday nights, playing three games as they took on Rhea County in game one, White County in game two, and Stone Memorial in game three.
The Lady Pioneers lost game one to the Eaglettes, 15-0, meaning they needed a win in game two or be eliminated from the district tournament. The Lady Pioneers prevailed in game two, winning the game, 3-1, behind Ashton Whiles and Hailey Wood’s 2-for-3 nights, both driving in a run apiece.
Whiles also got it done on the mound, going seven innings, allowing a run on five hits and striking out eight Warriorettes.
On Tuesday, the Lady Pioneers were in the same situation where they needed to win or be eliminated. The Lady Pioneers took on the Stone Memorial Lady Panthers, a team they defeated, 11-0 on Friday night.
The Lady Pioneers came out with their bats on fire in the bottom of the third inning, scoring 13 runs and demolishing the Lady Panthers on their home field, once again, by blowing them out, 13-1 in five innings.
Neva Tackett and Skyler Youngblood led the Lady Pioneers at the plate, both going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Tackett also added a run scored. Emily Mikkola contributed two RBIs, while Ty Ramirez, Bailey Martin, Hailey Wood and Ashton Whiles all contributed an RBI apiece.
Lindsey Cox was solid on the mound, going five strong innings, allowing a run on two hits and striking out four.
The Lady Panthers put the first run on the board in the top of the second. An error by the Lady Pioneers helped the Lady Panthers grab the lead, 1-0.
After the Lady Panthers went down quickly in the top of the third, the Lady Pioneers exploded for 13 runs in the bottom of the inning to put the game out of reach. A 2-RBI double by Mikkola, an RBI single by Youngblood, and an error by the Lady Panthers let the Lady Pioneers take the lead, 4-1, but they weren’t done.
A Tackett RBI double, another error by the Lady Panthers, a Martin single, and a run-scoring walk turned it into a lopsided game, 8-1, with all of the momentum on the Lady Pioneers side.
Whiles scored on a passed ball making it 9-1 and the scoring barrage ended after a Ramirez RBI single, Wood advancing home on a wild throw, the Lady Panthers third error of the inning, scoring a run, and the Lady Pioneers scoring on a passed ball by the Lady Panthers, 13-1, after three.
That was more than enough run support as Cox sat the lady Panthers down in order in the final two innings.
The Lady Pioneers were back in action in the semifinals of the district tournament Thursday night at Stone Memorial High School against the Rhea County Eaglettes for their second matchup of the tournament. Results weren’t available at press time.